Poll: How do you protect your privacy? • Hacker News Board

Re: Poll: How do you protect your privacy?

#41

Post by CatMtKing » Thu, May 30, 2013, 6:24 PM UTC

jschuur wrote: post #7

Nothing (because none of these are necessary for the kind of privacy I practice). I think about what I post to what social network and some things I just don't post at all. I think I still have privacy. I have private conversations with people via Skype, IM, Facebook, email. Is it possible that at some point those leak? Perhaps. It's just not likely enough that I chose to worry about it. I value the benefits I get ov…

Low signal-to-noise ratio is an anonymizer, too. Just keep your head down and don't worry about it :P.

Re: Poll: How do you protect your privacy?

#42

Post by gnosis » Thu, May 30, 2013, 6:28 PM UTC

Achshar wrote: post #5

That list makes me uncomfortable. I can't imagine doing all of it unless I was some criminal. But to each his own I guess because I don't really care what government or add company person is looking at me browsing reddit or programing forums. So nothing to hide, too much trouble and I don't care about my privacy. Now if I really wanted to hide my activities, I would be using tor BTW. Plus I am a little optimistic abo…

"I can't imagine doing all of it unless I was some criminal."

Perhaps if you ever get harrassed, stalked, or have your identity stolen based on information you revealed online you might change your mind.

Re: Poll: How do you protect your privacy?

#43

Post by stablepeak » Thu, May 30, 2013, 6:30 PM UTC

PeterisP wrote: post #38

Avoid posting controversial issues. I mean, not only avoid posting them under your real name facebook/google+ account, but avoid posting them at all, since they'll be linked together automatically anyway. If you consider a possibility of going into politics at age of 40-50, then you better think what you say even at age of 20.

If you do not dare to post your opinion with an anonymous accounts at age 20 you should definitely not go into politics at age 40-50.

Re: Poll: How do you protect your privacy?

#44

Post by ICWiener » Thu, May 30, 2013, 6:39 PM UTC

sbashyal wrote: post #4

I created HNCharts to visualize Hacker News polls. The results for this poll can be viewed as a chart at http://hnlike.com/hncharts/chart/?id=5793326

This is nice, but there is however a little display problem with long labels.

Re: Poll: How do you protect your privacy?

#45

Post by gnosis » Thu, May 30, 2013, 6:39 PM UTC

rosser wrote: post #32

Other: I use multiple browsers. Broadly, I have one browser logged into Google services, one logged into Facebook, and one in which I do everything else. I also use Ghostery, AdBlock, HTTPS Everywhere, and a cookie management extension that deletes all non-whitelisted cookies after an hour, as well as make liberal use of Incognito windows.

"and a cookie management extension that deletes all non-whitelisted cookies after an hour"

Which extension is that? Sounds useful.

Re: Poll: How do you protect your privacy?

#46

Post by lotharbot » Thu, May 30, 2013, 6:39 PM UTC

mpclark wrote: post #37

Consider adding "Use browser's Incognito mode for some sites"

As well as "selectively block/allow cookies".

Re: Poll: How do you protect your privacy?

#47

Post by noir_lord » Thu, May 30, 2013, 6:40 PM UTC

drew0536488976 wrote: post #9

I disable javascript. It's the only way to fully prevent fingerprinting[1]. Unfortunately, many web developers don't know how to write websites in plain HTML, or they want to use AJAX without any graceful fallback. [1] http://panopticlick.eff.org/

It's not that we don't know it's often that we don't care enough to do it.

If you have to expend 20% more effort to server the 2-3% of people with JS disabled then a simple C/B analysis kicks in.

Re: Poll: How do you protect your privacy?

#48

Post by stephengillie » Thu, May 30, 2013, 6:41 PM UTC

Lately, Facebook has taken to begging me to Like things so it knows how to advertise to me.

Re: Poll: How do you protect your privacy?

#49

Post by stephengillie » Thu, May 30, 2013, 6:41 PM UTC

Lately, Facebook has taken to begging me to Like things so it knows how to advertise to me.

Re: Poll: How do you protect your privacy?

#50

Post by gnosis » Thu, May 30, 2013, 6:43 PM UTC

eclipxe wrote: post #30

ivarv wrote: post #10

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Keep in mind that it is possible to infer / derive a lot of meaningful data about you from a relatively small sample size. From political leanings via social networks (personal associations are very strong data points) to samples of your personal writing style (see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stylometry )

And why is this bad?

There's a long and sordid history of people being persecuted and discriminated against because of their political opinions.

Sexual orientation can also often be derived from data such as your movie viewing preferences (ala NetFlix). You are no doubt aware that people have been discriminated against based on their sexual orientation as well.

Other data that is collected on you could be used for harrassment, stalking, and identity theft.